Now that the weather is getting colder, I also wanted to do something with all of my fresh herbs that won’t last through winter. Shake and pat the cut herbs dry to get as much of the water off as possible. Some Italian and Greek friends have told me that.Thanks for the information on drying. An oven thermometer is an indispensable tool for this purpose, allowing you to measure the internal temperature so you can make the necessary adjustments. Lay out parchment over a baking pan, preheat your oven and keep it on the lowest heat setting. Since I’m drying for tea, I am gently crushing the dried herbs before I put them in the jars. I took big leaves off of their stems and laid them out evenly on a baking sheet. If you are already a subscriber, this PDF is waiting for you in the library. Almost foolproof. COUNTRY LIVING, For Members Only: The OSP Printables Library, How The Blog Began…And A Little Bit About Me, Travel Tips, Stunning Summer Decor, A Citronella Candle & More! ", "Is it legal? You can get the best assurance of flavor quality from dried herbs that were harvested fresh, as you would have known exactly when they were harvested. I welcome any of you with an overabundance of dried herbs to feel free to send some my way! If the plants are homegrown and free of pesticides, it’s not necessary to wash them. Principles of oven drying herbs. How to Dry Herbs in Your Oven. I’ll be back soon with some printable tags in case you want to dry some herbs for yourself! How to Perk Up Your Porch If you can’t, just switch their positions half way through drying. This process is of course a little bit more efficient than air-drying them, but if you live in a very humid climate, you may find that you like the results a little better this way as well. Many of them are also free of dairy, gluten, and refined sugar! The herbs are ready once their leaves are easily crumbled by hand. This allows any moisture from the herbs to exit the oven, so it doesn’t inhibit the drying process. Achieving the optimal temperature is a challenge. Can I finish them off in the oven? For freshly harvested herbs, timing is key. Looked cool. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Don’t harvest more than 1/3 to 1/2 of your plant at a time. A: You can make both of them in your microwave! Let cool thoroughly before storing in a container. Glad you were able to preserve your herbs for future use! This is the first time drying herbs as I have soooooo much of them and taking over and cannot get to family and friends because of covid. The main goal for my herb garden this year was to grow the plants big enough to harvest the leaves for making tea. Pick out a recipe and let's get cooking! Preheat the oven to 175 degrees. All of my herbs were dry in less than 1 hour. 2) Rinse the dirt off your herbs and pat lightly with a lint free towel to dry. How to dry fresh herbs in the oven. For example, parsley and oregano have typically taken us closer to an hour, where basil and sage take a bit longer. As long as you spread them out evenly, the water should evaporate and dry just fine. And they can be invasive here. CLICK TO GET THE 2021 PRINTABLE CALENDAR! For more simple recipes, click here. COUNTRY SAMPLER Enjoy! Place the baking sheets on the oven racks set close to the middle of the oven. Oven Drying. You must take extra caution when drying herbs in the oven. Some herbs may take longer to dry out than others, but expect to be drying for about an hour and a half. Oven-dried herbs can be stored whole or crumbled. Label your dried herbs appropriately with their names and dates of harvest or purchase; this way, you keep track of how long you can use your herbs to get the maximum flavor. Your email address will not be published. You can tell when they’re ready if they crunch between your fingers. There’s always a danger of using too much heat, which can burn the herbs if left unattended. Lay out parchment over a baking pan, preheat your oven and keep it on the lowest heat setting. The ideal time to cut herbs is when they’re crisp in the morning, rather than after they’ve endured the sun’s heat for the day. Many chefs and gourmands swear by the quality of home-dried herbs over their store-bought counterparts, and with good reason. If you are drying grocery store herbs, it is best to gently rinse them and dry completely. Took me forever!) But chances are you’ll have left over herbs at the end of the season that you haven’t used. I began researching ways to dry fresh herbs in the oven so all of that flavor doesn’t go to waste. It’s just what this first timer needed! When they’re dry the leaves will crumble right off the stems. This gives the best flavor. Thank you, Jane and Alan, for the image:), Copyright © 2020. Once dried, your harvest can be stored in airtight containers and left in a cool, dark, and dry place for up to a year. Drying Herbs in the Oven: An Easy Process. To see if the herbs are dry, check if leaves crumble easily. I need to do the same soon too, my herbs are growing like weeds!! DIY NETWORK READ ALSO: A Complete Guide on How to Store Dried Herbs. If your oven doesn't get that low, residual heat from the oven after you've turned it off will do the trick. My basil,parsley and thyme are out of control. Thank you so much for your support! While the oven is preheating, place your herb sprigs in a single layer on a cookie sheet. I’ve had many gardening goals that were never achieved…but that’s life. This makes it easier to transfer the herbs. Mid-morning is the best time to harvest herbs from your garden, as the dew would have evaporated while the essential oils within the plants have not. For some climates, ovens and dehydrators may be the only way to dry freshly harvested herbs. Click HERE for my disclosure statement. This will help prevent the leaves from burning. Most oven’s lowest heat setting is 210 Fahrenheit/ 100 Celsius. Yeah, not doing that again! Dry fresh herbs in the microwave or oven. With oregano, when you smell it, it’s done! P.s. P.S. Turn your oven on to the lowest setting. Little leaves like some of the parsley, mint, lemon thyme, and rosemary I left on the stem. On Sutton Place/Ann Drake is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Principles of oven drying herbs. Thank you. You have entered an incorrect email address! The secret to long lasting herbs is keeping out two things – air and light. Pinch off the leaves from the stems and lay them out on a cookie sheet. All herbs that are oven-dried become slightly cooked; thus, you may need to use more oven-dried herbs in your recipes. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Here are all the important things you need to know about drying herbs in the oven. Be careful not to wash them too thoroughly to avoid adding excess water and losing the plant’s flavorful compounds. You’re welcome, Debra!! Most oven’s lowest heat setting is 210 Fahrenheit/ 100 Celsius. To dry your herbs in the oven, you'll need to get it as low as 50 degrees Celsius or 122 degrees Fahrenheit. You must take extra caution when drying herbs in the oven. Whether you’re looking to preserve chives, basil, parsley, cilantro, sage, or most other herbs, give this a try and you’ll see that they are far more fragrant and flavorful than any pricey herbs you’d buy from a grocery store. Tie bunches of herbs with string and hang up in a cool, dry, well-ventilated spot out of direct sunlight. Place herb leaves or seeds on a cookie sheet one inch deep or less. When the leaves crumble between your fingers, they’re done. I did that once with some flowers my husband had bought me. Despite this, dried herbs have a more concentrated aroma, which means you would need to use less of them in a dish. Allow the herbs to cool completely (any moisture can cause mold.) Oven drying can be a great way to dry a lot of herbs very quickly. First, cut the herbs you want to dry from the garden and bring them inside. Spread the herbs in a single layer onto the baking sheet. Step 2 – Wash and Dry. Thank you; and much cheaper than buying a dehydrator! The ideal time to cut herbs is when they’re crisp in the morning, rather than after they’ve endured the sun’s heat for the day. Each oven is different, and it takes a bit of trial and error to get the appropriate combination of temperatures and settings to dry your herbs effectively.